In a groundbreaking advisory released Tuesday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has officially declared firearm violence a public health crisis, highlighting its devastating impact on Americans, particularly children and adolescents.
Murthy’s statement comes amid alarming statistics, revealing that firearm violence is now the leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents. Since 2020, gun-related suicides, which account for the majority of firearm-related deaths, have surged by 45% among individuals aged 15-24 and by 68% among children aged 10-14, according to recent research cited in the advisory. This sharp increase underscores the urgent need for action, Murthy says.
The crisis extends beyond youth. An April 2023 survey found that over half of U.S. adults—or someone close to them—have experienced a firearm-related incident. The impact is particularly pronounced among certain demographic groups: Black Americans face the highest age-adjusted firearm homicide rates, while American Indian and Alaska Native people under 45 have the highest firearm suicide rates. Meanwhile, white Americans aged 45 and older experience the highest rates of firearm suicide overall. Men are six times more likely to die from a gun-related injury than women.
“We lose nearly 50,000 people each year to gun violence, but millions more are affected by its reverberating impact,” Murthy said in a statement. “This advisory seeks to raise awareness about the widespread harms of gun violence and move the issue from the realm of politics to public health.”
As of this year, there have already been 247 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. While mass shootings account for only about 1% of all firearm-related deaths, their frequency is rising, and they leave behind deep psychological scars on the American public. The trauma extends far beyond the victims, with nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults expressing concerns about loved ones becoming victims of gun violence.
While there has been some progress in addressing gun violence—such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022—the Surgeon General is calling for further action. The Act, which represented the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, introduced measures like enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, state-level red flag laws, and local violence intervention programs.
However, Murthy argues that more is needed. The advisory calls for universal background checks, mandatory safety training, and a waiting period for firearm purchases, as well as a ban on assault weapons. One major issue highlighted is the loopholes in existing laws: 45% of online gun buyers can purchase firearms without undergoing a background check. Moreover, only 16 states and Washington, D.C., require guns to be stored locked, and 76% of guns involved in unintentional deaths among children and teens were stored unlocked.
Despite these gaps, Murthy is hopeful, pointing to the success of past public health initiatives as proof that progress is possible. He cited the 1964 Surgeon General’s Advisory on smoking, which led to a dramatic reduction in tobacco use and saved millions of lives. “That report catalyzed significant public health changes,” Murthy said. “We’ve reduced smoking rates to under 12%, saving countless lives—and I believe we can do the same for gun violence.”
The Surgeon General’s advisory is a call to action, urging further investment in research, stronger legislation, and a renewed commitment to tackling this crisis. As the nation faces the growing toll of gun violence, it is clear that the road to change will require a collective effort, fueled by public awareness and policy reforms aimed at saving lives.
